Director of HR

AQA; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 115,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 25 days

Hybrid working

Pension up to 18.5%

Private medical insurance

Life assurance

Health cash plan

Volunteer days

Job summary

AQA is seeking a senior HR leader to shape the future of its people strategy. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, you will lead a People function of around 25 colleagues and impact more than 1,500 employees across AQA Education, guiding organisational development, HR business partnering and workforce transformation through technology and AI.

This role blends strategic influence with hands-on leadership, partnering with the Executive Team, Directors and Trade Unions to align priorities,

Qualifications

• Significant senior HR leadership experience within a complex organisation.
• Proven track record of leading strategic HR Business Partnering teams.
• Extensive Employee Relations and Trade Union experience.
• Experience influencing Executive, Board or Trustee-level stakeholders.
• Experience shaping organisational change, workforce planning and leadership capability.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication and negotiation skills.
• Collaborative, strategically minded and outcomes-focused approach.
• Credibility and judgement to act as a trusted adviser to senior leaders.

Responsibilities

• Lead the People function and set the strategic agenda across AQA.
• Partner with senior leaders to drive workforce transformation and organisational effectiveness.
• Champion Diversity & Inclusion and lead Employee Relations and People Services.
• Provide trusted advice to Executive Team, Directors and Trustees.
• Shape the people strategy to enable long-term success.

Skills

Senior HR leadership

Strategic HR Business Partnering

Employee relations

Executive stakeholder influence

Organisational change

Workforce planning

Stakeholder management

Trusted adviser

Job description

Shape the future of people leadership at AQA

You'll play a pivotal role in shaping the future of AQA through its people, providing the clarity, direction and strategic vision needed to help the organisation thrive during a period of growth, change and opportunity.

Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer, you'll lead a People function of around 25 colleagues and help shape a people agenda that supports more than 1,500 employees across AQA Education.

Working closely with leaders across the organisation, you'll champion a strategic business partnering approach, strengthen organisational effectiveness and workforce transformation driven by technology and AI, and ensure our people strategy helps drive long-term success.

This is a role with significant strategic breadth and influence. You'll work closely with the Executive Team, Directors, Trustees and Trade Unions, providing trusted advice on organisational priorities, workforce planning, leadership capability, employee relations and organisational effectiveness.

Most importantly, you'll help shape a clear and ambitious people vision that enables organisational success whilst creating an environment where people can thrive.

Leading strategic people partnering

A key focus of this role is continuing to strengthen AQA's approach to strategic people partnering.

You'll lead and develop a high-performing team that works alongside leaders to solve organisational challenges, build capability, plan for the future and deliver meaningful organisational outcomes.

We're looking for someone who sees HR as more than a support function, and who is comfortable managing risk. Someone who can build trusted partnerships, influence decision-making and help leaders navigate complexity with confidence and clarity.

Alongside Strategic People Partnering

you'll lead:

• Diversity & Inclusion
• Employee Relations
• People Advice
• People Services

You’ll work closely with the Head of People Operations whose remit includes Talent Acquisition, Learning & Development and People Operations, to ensure a joined-up and effective people strategy.

Shaping an inclusive future

Creating a workplace where everyone feels they belong and can do their best work is a strategic priority for AQA.

You'll lead our Diversity & Inclusion agenda, supported by a dedicated Head of Diversity & Inclusion and D&I Specialist. We've made genuine investment in this area because we believe greater representation, broader perspectives and inclusive leadership make us stronger as an organisation.

You'll help ensure inclusion is embedded across our people strategy, leadership practices and employee experience, helping us better reflect and serve the communities we work with every day.

You’ll thrive in this role if you have:

• Significant senior HR leadership experience within a complex organisation
• A demonstrable track record of leading and developing strategic HR Business Partnering teams
• Extensive Employee Relations and Trade Union experience
• Experience influencing Executive, Board or Trustee-level stakeholders
• Experience shaping organisational change, workforce planning and leadership capability
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication and negotiation skills
• A collaborative, strategically minded and outcomes-focused approach
• The credibility and judgement to act as a trusted adviser to senior leaders

What's in it for you?

Alongside a salary of £115,000 - £125,000, you’ll benefit from:

• 25 days' annual leave, rising to 30 with service, plus bank holidays and additional Christmas closure days
• A 35-hour working week and flexible hybrid working arrangements
• An excellent pension scheme with combined contributions of up to 18.5%
• Private Medical Insurance, life assurance and a health cash plan
• Enhanced family-friendly policies
• Up to five paid volunteering days each year

Most importantly, you'll have the opportunity to influence the future direction of a purpose-led organisation whose work impacts millions of learners and educators.

Applications close at 23:59 on Sunday 27 September 2026.

Initial Teams interviews are expected to take place during mid to late October, with final face-to-face interviews in Manchester in early November. We anticipate making a successful appointment by mid to late November.

We're committed to providing a positive candidate experience and all applicants will receive a written outcome following their application.

Our commitment to inclusion

At AQA, we're committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels they belong and can do their best work. We value the different perspectives, experiences and backgrounds our people bring, knowing they strengthen our culture, decision-making and impact. We foster an inclusive environment where everyone is treated with respect, has access to opportunities to grow and contribute, and feels able to be themselves. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and lived experiences.